Red Menu

Making It Easy to Move to Texas

The State of Texas has worked hard to develop and sustain a business-friendly operating environment. State and local government provides tax incentives, financing assistance and an array of services to help companies establish or expand in Texas.

Grants

Grants

Grants

From public infrastructure projects in non-entitlement communities to workforce development and laboratory facility construction, several types of grants are available to Texas communities and businesses.

The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) is a cash grant used as a financial incentive tool for projects that offer significant projected job creation and capital investment and where a single Texas site is competing with another viable out-of-state option. Since its inception in 2004, the TEF has awarded over 100 grants totaling more than $500 million across a wide variety of industries and projects. Variations in award amounts are influenced by the number of jobs to be created, the expected timeframe for hiring, and the average wages to be paid. In the past, awards have ranged from $194,000 to $50 million. If you're seriously considering Texas and opportunities in some other state, the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) might help you make your decision. View TEF benefits, requirements, application process, and contact information here.

The Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) was enacted in 2015 by the 84th Legislature with a goal to bring the best and brightest distinguished researchers in the world to Texas. This program is a matching grant program to assist eligible institutions of higher education in recruiting distinguished researchers. The GURI grant program is operated within the Office of the Governor's Economic Development and Tourism Division (EDT). For additional information please visit: http://gov.texas.gov/ecodev/guri/home.

Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure / Real Estate Programs (INFRA/RE)are economic development tools designed to provide financial resources to non-entitlement communities. Funds from the infrastructure program can be utilized for public infrastructure needed to assist a business that commits to create and/or retain permanent jobs, primarily for low and moderate income persons. Funds from the real estate program must be used for real estate development to assist a business that commits to create and/or retain permanent jobs, primarily for low and moderate-income persons. The real estate and/or improvements must be owned by the community and leased to the business. These programs encourages new business development and expansions. Visit the Texas Department of Agriculture site for more program information.

The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP)is designed to build the economy through the moving image industry and create jobs in Texas. TMIIIP provides qualifying film, television, commercial, visual effects and video game productions the opportunity to receive a cash grant based on a percentage of a project’s eligible Texas expenditures, including eligible wages paid to Texas residents. Grants vary by budget levels and types of productions, and are issued upon completion of a review of the project’s Texas expenditures. VIsit the Texas Film Commision for more information.

The Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program (DEAAG)is an infrastructure grant program administered by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC). The program is designed to assist defense communities that are responding to or recovering from a reduction or termination of defense contracts, and those that have been positively affected with new or expanded military missions, as well as, qualified job retention. DEAAG funding is available to local municipalities, counties, defense base development authority, junior college districts and Texas State Technical College campuses, and regional planning commissions representing these communities. Grants awarded may range from $50,000 to $5 million per project. View program details here.

The Skills Development Fund is Texas' premier job-training program providing local customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and workers to increase skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. The Texas Workforce Commission administers funding for the program. Success is achieved through collaboration among businesses, public community and technical colleges, Workforce Development Boards and economic development partners. For detailed grant information, forms and documents to submit a proposal, visit the Texas Workforce Commission's Skills Development Fund page.

Skills for Small Business finances the design and implementation of customized job training programs for newly hired employees of small businesses, successfully merging small business needs and local customized training opportunities into a winning formula for putting people to work in Texas. Administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Skills for Small Business program supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, emphasizes training for new workers, and helps upgrade the skills of incumbent workers. Through this program, up to $2 million from the Skills Development Fund is dedicated to the backbone of Texas' business community—our more than 433,000 small employers. Small businesses can apply here.

The Self Sufficiency Fund provides community and technical colleges access to training dollars to support high-quality customized training projects statewide. College partners that participate in Self-Sufficiency Fund training strengthen their position as economic development leaders in their communities. Businesses gain a more highly trained workforce, workers upgrade their skills and the Texas economy grows more competitive.The Self-Sufficiency Fund supports training primarily for low-income individuals and those receiving public assistance achieve self-sufficiency and independence. For detailed program information, forms and documents to submit a proposal, visit the Texas Workforce Commission's Self Sufficiency Fund page.

The Spaceport Trust Fund (STF) provides funds for eligible entities to develop infrastructure necessary or useful for establishing a spaceport in Texas. The Office of the Governor's Economic Development & Tourism Division (EDT) is currently soliciting proposals for projects that provide for the development of spaceports in Texas. The Spaceport Trust Fund is established by Government Code Section 481.0069 and the source of funding is an appropriation by the Texas Legislature from General Revenue funds for fiscal year 2018. Grantees must meet certain eligibility requirements. Grant funds are disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis.

Download an overview of Texas business incentives and programs available through the Governor's Economic Development Office.

GO BIG IN TEXAS® promotes Texas economic development and provides valuable information for companies looking to expand or relocate in the Lone Star State.
GO BIG IN TEXAS® is the official brand for the Texas Economic Development Division within the Office of the Governor.